Oil saver



Patented Jan. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES PATEN ()FFICE Application April 30,1931.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in oil saver casingheads.

The invention will be fully understood from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which latter-- Fig.l is a side elevational view with parts of the oil saver broken away andshowing a portion of the casinghead and tubing;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig.1, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line III-III ofFig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the oil saver comprises a body portion whichincludes a cylindrical member 1 to an end of which is secured a plate 2having a central opening adapted to receive a string of tubing 3, or thelike. Plate 2 is secured to a base 5 to form a unit therewith. The baseis an annular member, a portion 6 of the bore of which convergesinwardly toward its center. The surface of the bore flares outwardly atits lower end '7. A cover 9 is secured to the opposite end of the bodyportion and is apertured at its center to receive the tubing 3. A guidering 10 is secured to plate 2 with its inner surface flush with theinner surface of the plate 2 to constitute a guide way for an annularpacking gland. The body portion can be secured to a casinghead 11 bymeans of screws 12 which engage an annular V shaped groove 13 in theexterior of the base 5.

The annular packing gland is mounted for reciprocating movementlongitudinally of the bore of the body portion whereby it can be causedto close the space between the string of tubing or the like and the bodyportion, oralternately can be elevated to clear the space between thetubing and body portion. The annular packing gland comprises acylindrical member 14 carrying at one end an annular resilient packingring 15 formed of rubber or other suitable composition. The outersurface of the packing ring tapers inwardly to its free end and isadapted to ride upon the converging surface 6 of the body portion.Cylindrical member 14 carries arms 16 which project outwardly fromopposite sides of the member 14 through slots 17 in the body portion.

The annular packing gland is maintained in normally elevated positionwith the packing ring withdrawn from converging surface 6 by means ofcoil springs 18. Springs 18 are held in position by means of guide pins19. Guide pins 19 are secured at one end to plate 2 and project freelythrough openings in arms 16 and cover 9. Springs Serial No. 534,002

18 bear at one end upon adjusting nuts 20 threaded to pins 19 and attheir opposite ends engage the arms 16.

The annular packing gland is forced toward the apex of the convergingsurface 6 by means of levers 21. The levers 21 are forked at 22 and aresupported by means of a pintle 23 which extends through the fork andinto spaced flanges 24 pro jecting outwardly from the plate 2. Bolts 25for adjusting the position of the packing gland are pivotally secured tothe protruding ends of the forks 22 by means of pins 26. The boltsextend longitudinally of the body portion and project freely throughopenings in the arms 16 and are adjustably secured to the arms by nuts2'7.

When running or pulling tubing in an oil well which flows, the oil saveris affixed to the casinghead and the levers 21 are pivoted upwardly tocause the annular packing gland to be compressed against the bodyportion and tubing to close the opening therebetween. Waste of oil isthereby averted and the oil is caused to go through the lead lines fromthe casing head to a tank or other suitable place of disposal. The oilsaver can be operated anywhere along the tubing joints when the wellstarts flowing. When the well is not flowing the packing gland is heldin its upper position free from the tubing thus eliminating wear on thematerial of the gland. When running tubing in a well operatingcontinuously, the levers are dropped while the collars on the tubing arepassing through the oil saver.

Various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claim inwhich it is desired to claim all novelty inherent in the invention asbroadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

An oil saver comprising a body portion having a bore adapted to receivetubing, a packing gland carrying a continuous annular resilient packingring mounted for reciprocating movement longitudinally of the bore andwithin the body portion, the ring and body portion having cam facesadapted to contract the ring upon longitudinal movement of the ring inone direction, resilient means for normally maintaining the ringwithdrawn from the cam face of the body portion to

